Bit by Bit
Building a Positive Family-Image with
Scrapbooking
By
Dr. Caron Goode,
www.acpi.biz
We are all aware of what a
positive self-image can do for a person. It gives him the
confidence to achieve more. It picks him up when he is down. It
makes it possible for him to enjoy life to the fullest. The same
holds true for families. Like individuals, every family has its
ups and downs. Situations such as illness, separation, divorce,
and parent-child power struggles can dent a positive
family-image. One way to offset the effects of these situations
is to involve the family in a group project.
Scrapbooking is an ideal
family project. It encourages families to work together toward a
common goal. The process of scrapbooking also has a way of
gently reminding families that they are unit. It helps each
member acknowledge and appreciate family triumphs and
traditions. It reminds them that they share a history and a love
that remains constant over time.
Before beginning your
project, decide which area of family life you want to highlight.
You may want a scrapbook that communicates an overall feeling of
warmth and togetherness. Or you may want to explore a theme or
common family interest. This type of project can focus on
favorite vacation or holiday memories, the birth of your
children, or sporting achievements.
Next, begin gathering
supplies. Start with a variety of family photos that represent
your desired theme or outcome. In addition to photographs, look
for mementos. Postcards, certificates, ribbons, birthday cards,
and material from favorite clothing items are good. Once you
have gathered the family memorabilia, it is time to gather the
family. Setting aside an hour or so each week to work on the
scrapbook is as important as the project itself in regaining a
positive family-image.
Scrapbooking for a Positive Family-Image
- Use pictures to
evoke memories. Do you ever look
through old photos and find yourself smiling at what you
remember? Photographs can evoke a sense of time and place
like nothing else. They can also evoke emotions and a sense
of belonging. While working on your scrapbook, talk about
what was happening before and after each photo was taken.
- Put memories into
words. Encourage your family to
write captions, stories, or poems to go along with the
pictures in your scrapbook. They can describe the situation,
how they were feeling, or how the image makes them feel now.
Children may enjoy composing and illustrating acrostic poems
that describe their feelings or memories. In addition,
younger children delight in having older brothers and
sisters take dictation. This not only enforces their sibling
bond, but their sense of family as well.
- Use pictures to
express appreciation. Pictures
often inspire people to express what they appreciate or
admire about others. A picture of dad dressed for Halloween
might make children laugh. It might also make them realize
they appreciate his sense of humor. Encourage your family to
share these types of feelings as you work on your scrapbook.
You can do this by asking them to list five positive things
they feel about the family member in a photo. Have them
write these attributes on the page where the picture
appears. Also have them include their name and the date.
Small tributes such as these can go a long way towards
building a positive family-image.
- Compose positive
family portraits. Have each
family member compose their own family portrait. They can be
drawings or collages made from magazine and newspaper
clippings. They can be actual pictures or a series of words
that positively describe your family. Use these portraits
intermitteningly in your scrapbook. These additions will
give your family a unique snapshot of its positive image
from many angles.
- Put your handiwork
on display. When your family
decides the project is complete, display it. Keep it on the
coffee table or in clear view on a shelf. Refer to it often.
Whenever your family hits a rough spot or needs a boost,
pull down your scrapbook. Have your family look through it
and recall the memories that it holds and the love that went
into making it. Use it to remind yourselves of the positive
family-image you have built and cherish.
Dr. Caron B. Goode is the founder of the
Academy for Coaching Parents International, a training and
certification program for parent coaches. In addition to duties
with the academy, Goode is the founding editor of the website
InspiredParenting.net, and the author of eleven books, the
most recent of which is Help Kids Cope with Stress & Trauma,
which includes several chapters on he use of storytelling
strategies. For more information on The Academy for Coaching
Parents International or to sign up for academy announcements,
visit
www.acpi.biz .
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